A YOUNG motorist walked free from court despite being responsible for a high speed accident, damaging two cars and a telegraph pole, causing an electricity black-out.

Matthew Whitton was driving at speeds estimated between 79 and 84-miles per hour on a stretch of the A690 with a limit of 40, dropping to 30mph, shortly before losing control on a bend, entering Langley Moor, near Durham.

His Ford Fiesta, which was just behind an untraced vehicle, also travelling at high speed, veered onto the wrong side of the road.

Durham Crown Court heard it hit an oncoming Renault Megane, before striking the telegraph pole carrying electricity cables.

Anthony Dunne, prosecuting, said the Fiesta went into a spin, before colliding with a Volkswagen Passat, belonging to a taxi driver.

It came to rest “side on” alongside the Passat and a garden wall, in a residential area.

Mr Dunne said both the Megane and Passat were written off, while the entire rear axle of the Fiesta was thrust down the road, with both tyres still intact.

“Police arrived and began an intensive investigation into how it happened," he said.

“Importantly, cctv was recovered from Stonebridge Service Station, about 100 metres before the accident scene, which showed the defendant’s Fiesta just behind another vehicle, both travelling at high speed.

“The Crown can’t say why both vehicles were going at such high speeds so close together, but it’s an obvious conclusion that it can’t have been a coincidence.”

Mr Dunne said two passengers in the Megane were injured, but not seriously, and the defendant and his girlfriend, a passenger in the Fiesta, both needed hospital treatment.

Properties in the vicinity of Grove Terrace suffered a power cut, from the time of the accident, shortly after 7.30pm on Saturday January 25, until 1.50am the following morning, costing £3,000 to repair.

Whitton, of Gayle Court, Consett, admitted dangerous driving.

The court heard he has seven earlier convictions, but none in the last three years, and nothing previously for motoring.

David Comb, mitigating, said Whitton was breath-tested, but gave a “zero” reading for alcohol.

“He knows the consequences could have been far worse," he added.

“But he’s now 20, 19 at the time, and has been driving, incident-free, since January.

“He’s in work and is said to show potential.”

Judge Robert Adams told Whitton it was only “good fortune” that more serious injury was not caused, given his “grossly excessive speed” shortly before the accident.

He imposed a five-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to perform 180 hours’ unpaid work.

Whitton was also ordered to pay £300 costs and £80 statutory surcharge, while he was also banned from driving for 18 months.